Companies in Brief

Reliance Security incurred pounds 828,000 taxable loss (profit pounds 1.1m) for the year to 30 April. Loss per share is 6p (EPS 3.5p). Final dividend is 3.6p, making 4.7p (4.5p).

Blagden Industries said its subsidiaries Arip, Blagden Netherlands and Blagden Emballages had sold Covera and Plastuni, the group's main plastics and packaging businesses, for an initial payment of pounds 6.9m with a pounds 690,000 deferred payment and an additional payment for Arip's stock expected to be about pounds 210,000.

Grampian Country Food Group increased its chicken processing factories to seven with the acquisition from Northern Foods of Mayhew Chicken.

Year to 31 March

Associated British Engineering, the catering equipment and products distributor, increased pre-tax profits from pounds 216,000 to pounds 338,000. Earnings per share are 0.01p (0.04p). Total dividend is 0.05p.

SelecTV, the television programmes producer and supplier, lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 926,000 (pounds 809,000) on pounds 23.7m (pounds 19.9m) turnover. Earnings per share slipped to 0.38p (0.42p). No dividend was declared.

Six months to 31 March

Cardiff Property sharply increased pre-tax profits from pounds 36,000 to pounds 98,000. Earnings per share are 3.6p (1.19p). Interim dividend is 0.85p.

M&W, the convenience store operator, turned in a 13.4 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to pounds 1.05m (pounds 927,000). Sales grew by 21 per cent to pounds 39.3m (pounds 32.5m), reflecting the opening of seven new stores in the first half. Earnings per share improved to 4.3p (3.81p). Dividend is 1.25p, up from 1.1p last time.